Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Some people are at a much higher risk of skin cancer than others, but that doesn’t prevent anyone from getting it. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer and if detected early skin cancer is generally curable.
What Are The Types of Skin Cancer?
There are three major types and they are:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Melanoma
What Are The Causes?
The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet radiation also known as (UV). This exposure damages and changes our DNA in normal skin cells. Long-term exposure from sunlight to tanning beds that leads to sunburns puts you at a greater risk of developing this cancer in your lifetime. Out of the one million Americans that are diagnosed with skin cancer 419,000 of those are due to tanning bed-related use.
Skin Cancer Prevention
It’s pretty self-explanatory to know to put sunblock on when outside and stay away from tanning beds to help prevent it. However, the Skin Cancer Foundation does recommend that you:
- Seek shade
- Avoid getting a sunburn
- Avoid tanning beds
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (UVA/UVB)
- Examine your skin every month
- See a dermatologist once a year
To learn more about the different types of skin cancer, view our overview page.